Mechanism for opening and closing a cover for a concealed windshield wiper system

ABSTRACT

In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to a cover concealed windshield wiper apparatus for an automotive vehicle having a windshield which extends within a well extending transversely of the vehicle and a cover movable between a closed position in which it covers the well and an open position in which it uncovers the well. The windshield cleaning apparatus includes a pair of spaced oscillatable windshield cleaner assemblies and an actuating mechanism for oscillating the windshield cleaner assemblies between inboard and outboard positions during running operation and for parking the same in its inboard position in the well when running operation is being terminated. The actuating mechanism includes a rotary crank arm operatively connected with the windshield cleaner assemblies, a drive motor including a rotatable element and having an interruptible driving connection with the crank arm and means for establishing a driving connection between the rotatable element and the crank arm during running operation and for disestablishing the driving connection therebetween when the wiper assemblies reach their inboard position when running operation is being terminated while allowing the rotatable element to continue rotation through a given angular extent prior to de-energizing the motor, and a cover operating mechanism operatively connected with the cover and being operable in response to said rotatable element continuing its rotation to move said cover from its open position towards its closed position whereby the cover is not moved to its closed position until the wiper assemblies are in their parked position.

United States atent Bellware [541 MECHANISM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING ACOVER FOR A (IONCEALED WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM [72] Inventor: James D.Bellware, Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich.

[22] Filed: April 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 132,101

[52] (IS. Cl ..l5/250.l6, 15/250.19 [51] Int. Cl. ..A471 l/00, B60s 1/02[58] Field of Search ..15/250.16, 250.17, 250.19

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,121,902 2/1964 Massoll..l5/250.17 3,226,756 1/1966 Heiler ..15/250.19 3,290,715 12/1966 Heiler..15/250.19 3,314,195 4/1967 Ziegler ..15/250.19 3,619,847 11/1971Papadatos et a1 ..15/250.l6

Primary ExaminerPeter Feldman Att0rneyW. E. Finken and W. A. Schuetz[57] ABSTRACT In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to a coverconcealed windshield wiper apparatus for an automo- Sept. 5, 1972 tivevehicle having a windshield which extends within a well extendingtransversely of the vehicle and a cover movable between a closedposition in which it covers the well and an open position in which ituncovers the well. The windshield cleaning apparatus includes a pair ofspaced oscillatable windshield cleaner assemblies and an actuatingmechanism for oscillating the windshield cleaner assemblies betweeninboard and outboard positions during running operation and for parkingthe same in its inboard position in the well when running operation isbeing terminated. The actuating mechanism includes a rotary crank armoperatively connected with the windshield cleaner assemblies, a drivemotor including a rotatable element and having an interruptible drivingconnection with the crank arm and means for establishing a drivingconnection between the rotatable element and the crank arm duringrunning operation and for disestablishing the driving connectiontherebetween when the wiper assemblies reach their inboard position whenrunning operation is being terminated while allowing the rotatableelement to continue rotation through a given angular extent prior tode-energizing the motor, and a cover operating mechanism operativelyconnected with the cover and being operable in response to saidrotatable element continuing its rotation to move said cover from itsopen position towards its closed position whereby the cover is not movedto its closed position until the wiper assemblies are in their parkedposition.

3 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures WENTEW' 51312 3.688.332

SHEET 3 OF 4 A I IUHNi MECHANISM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING A CGVER FOR ACONCEALED WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM The present invention relates to acover concealed windshield wiper apparatus, and in particular to a coverconcealed windshield wiper apparatus for wiping a windshield whichextends within a well located beneath a movable cover and in which thewipers are parked on the windshield within the well at their inboardstroke end positions.

Heretofore, cover concealed windshield wiping apparatuses in which apair of windshield wipers are concealed from view beneath a cover havebeen provided. These known systems have included a separate motor anddrive arrangement for moving the cover between closed and openpositions. Known systems have also included mechanisms which areautomatically operable to move a cover to an open position in responseto movement of the wipers from a depressed park position towards theirinboard stroke end position. An example of the latter type of system isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,226,756.

The present invention provides a novel cover concealed windshield wiperapparatus having a nondepressed park windshield wiper mechanism and acover operating mechanism for moving the cover between its closed andopen positions subsequent and prior to wiper operation being terminatedand initiated, respectively.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved cover concealed windshield wiping apparatus for a vehiclehaving a windshield which extends within a transversely extending welldefined by body structure of the vehicle and a cover which is movablebetween closed and open positions for covering and uncovering the well,and in which the windshield wiper apparatus includes a windshieldcleaner assembly for wiping the windshield and which is adapted to beoscillated between inboard and outboard positions, an actuatingmechanism for oscillating the windshield cleaner assembly and whichincludes a rotatable output member operatively connected with thewindshield cleaner assembly for oscillating the same, a drive motorincluding a rotatable element having an interruptible driving connectionwith the rotatable member and means operable to establish a drivingconnection between the rotatable element and rotatable output memberduring running operation of the windshield cleaner assembly and operableto disestablish a driving connection therebetween when running operationis being terminated and to allow the rotatable element to continue torotate relative to the output member through a given angular extentprior to de-energizing the drive motor, and a mechanism operativelyconnected with the cover for moving the cover from its open positiontowards its closed position in response to the continued rotation ofsaid rotatable element when said driving connection is interrupted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcover concealed windshield wiping apparatus, as defined in the precedingobject, and in which the rotatable output member is a crank am havingone end connected to a rotary output shaft and the rotatable elementcomprising a tubular shaft concentric with the output shaft and whichhas an interruptible driving connection with the output shaft, in

which the cover operating mechanism includes a shiftable collarconcentric with the output shaft and which is guidably supported forlinear movement, the tubular shaft and shiftable collar having adjacentend faces which are skewed with respect to their longitudinal axes, andin which the adjacent end faces of the tubular shaft and collar are inabutting engagement with each other during running operation in whichthe output shaft, tubular shaft and the collar are all rotated inunison, but said tubular shaft camming said collar in response to itscontinuing its rotation after the driving connection between the outputshaft and the tubular shaft is interrupted to shift the collar to causea cover operating mechanism to move the cover towards its closedposition.

The present invention further resides in various novel constructions andarrangement of parts, and further objects, novel characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which it relates and from the following detailed descriptionof the illustrated embodiments thereof made with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in whichsimilar reference numerals or characters are employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automotive vehicleembodying the novel cover concealed windshield wiping apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately along line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but showing differentparts thereof in different positions;

FIG 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately along line 4-4of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view like that shown in FIG. 4, but showing different partsthereof in different positions;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view like that shown in FIG. 4, but showingdifferent parts thereof in different positrons;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken-approximately along line 7-7 ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG 7, but showing differentparts thereof in different positions;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view like that shown FIG. 6, but showing different partsthereof in different positions;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of part of the apparatusshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of the apparatus shownin FIG. 1 1;

FIG. 13 is a view like that shown in FIG. 11, but showing differentparts thereof in different positions;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of some of the parts shown inFIG. 13 and FIG. 15 is a schematic electrical control system forcontrolling operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

As representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thedrawings show a cover concealed windshield wiping apparatus or system Afor wiping a windshield 10 of an automotive vehicle 12. The windshield10 is supported by a suitable body structure 14 of the vehicle 12 andits outer peripheral sides and top are surrounded by a reveal molding15. The vehicle 12 also includes a forwardly extending hood 13 whichdefines with the body structure 14 a well 26 extending transverselyacross the vehicle 12. The well has an access opening 21 at its upperend.

The access opening 21 is adapted to the either covered or uncovered by acover 25. The cover 25 is movable between closed and open positions.When in its closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, it forms a continuationof the hood 18 and its rearward edge 25a is in engagement with thewindshield 10, the windshield having a lower portion 10a which extendsdown into the well 20. The cover when in its open position, as shown inFIG. 2, is inclined with respect to the hood l8 and defines with thewindshield 10 the opening 21 through which a pair of windshield wipersor cleaner assemblies can pass. Secured to the cover 25 at its oppositeside edges are the downwardly extending ears 31. The ears 31 arepivotally connected to ears 32 carried by hood 18 via pivot pin means33.

The cover 25 is adapted to be moved between its closed and openpositions by a cover operating mechanism 35. The cover operatingmechanism 35 comprises a pair of spaced levers 36 (only one of which isshown) having their lower ends pivotally connected to a housing 38 by apivot pin means 39. The upper ends of the levers 36 carry a roller 40which is Slidably received within a guide channel 41 secured to theunderside of the cover 25. When the levers 36 are pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, the cover 25 is caused to be moved from its closedposition, as shown in FIG. 2 towards its open position, as shown in FIG.3. Likewise, pivoting the levers 36 in a clockwise direction causes thecover 25 to be moved from its open position towards its closed position.The manner in which the levers 36 are pivoted to cause the cover to bemoved between its open and closed position will be describedhereinafter.

The cover concealed windshield wiping apparatus A also includes anon-depressed park wiper mechanism 42 which is carried by the vehiclesupport means 14. The wiper mechanism 42 comprises the pair ofwindshield cleaner assemblies or wipers 30 and an actuating mechanism ordrive means 43 for oscillating the wipers 30 across the outer surface ofthe windshield 10 between outboard positions, designated by the letter0, and inboard positions, designated by the letter I. The wipers 30 whenin their inboard position I are located on the lower portion 100 of thewindshield 1.0 and in the well 20. The inboard position of the wipers 30is also the park position of the windshield wipers 30.

The windshield wipers 30 can be of any suitable or conventionalconstruction and are here shown as comprising a wiper arm 44 havingspring hinged connected inner and outer wiper arm sections 44a and. 44bfor biasing a wiper blade assembly 440, which is carried by the outerwiper arm section 44b, against the outer surface of the wind shield 10.The inner wiper arm sections 440 are adapted to be fixedly secured todrive pivots 46, which are rotatably supported by the body structure 14of the vehicle 12.

The drive means 43 for oscillating the wipers 30 comprises aunidirectional electric motor 50 and a gear reduction unit 51 having arotary output shaft 52. Secured to the rotary output shaft 52 is one endof a crank arm 53, the other end of the crank arm being drivinglyconnected with one end of crank arms 54 fixed to the drive pivots 46 viaa suitable or conventional drive linkage or transmission 55. Rotation ofthe crank arm 53 causes the transmission 55 to be reciprocated tooscillate the crank arms 54, which in turn causes the drive pivots 46and the wipers 30 to be oscillated in tandem between their inboard andoutboard stroke end positions.

The electric motor 50 has an end casting 57 which encloses the gearreduction unit 51. The end casting or housing 57 includes three grometsupports 58 by which the wiper actuating mechanism 43 can be attached tothe support structure 14 of the vehicle 12. The end casting 57 alsosupports the housing 38. The housing 38 is non-circular, hollow and hasan end portion 59 which is received within a complementary shapedopening 60- in an end wall portion 57a of the end casting 57. The endwall portion 570 includes a radially extending flange 57b which retainsthe end portion 59 of the housing 38 in the opening 60.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 11, the speed reduction unit 51 includes a worm62 integral with the armature shaft not shown) of the motor 50 and whichmeshes with a nylon worm gear 63. The nylon worm gear 63 is bonded orotherwise fixedly secured to one end of a hollow or tubular metal shaft64, which in turn is rotatably journaled via a sleeve bearing 65 in theend portion 59 of the housing 38. The tubular shaft 64 is concentricwith the axis of the worm gear 63. The worm gear 63 has a concentricbore 66 formed therein for rotatably receiving the left end of theoutput shaft 52, as viewed in FIG 11. The output shaft 52 extendsthrough the hollow housing 38 and its other end is suitably fixed to oneend of the crank arm 53. The crank arm 53 is received in a non-circularrecess or slot 70 in an end portion 71 of an annular member 72. Theannular member 72 is rotatably journaled in the forward end portion 73of the housing 38 via a sleeve bearing 74. Thus the output shaft 52 isrotatably journaled within the worm gear 63 and the end portion 73 ofthe housing 38.

Referring to FIGS. 11-14, the rotatable output shaft 52 also carries,intermediate its ends, a sleeve 75. The sleeve is rotatably joumaled onthe output shaft 52 and at its left end is drivingly interlocked withthe hub of the nylon worm gear 63 so as to be rotatable therewith. Thesleeve 75 has a pair of projections 75a which extend axially thereof andwhich are received within suitable notches 76 in the hub of the wormgear 63 to drivingly connect the same together. Slidably carried on thesleeve 75 is an annular collar 77. The collar 77 is slid-ably supportedfor linear movement toward and from the nylon worm gear 63. To this end,the collar 77 has an axially extending recess 78 which receives anaxially extending projection 79 on the annular member 72 which preventsrelative rotation therebetween. The collar 77 has left and right endfaces 80 and 81 which lie in planes which intersect each other and whichare skewed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the collar 77 or theoutput shaft 52. These end faces 80 and 81 define cam surfaces havingrise and fall portions 80a, 81a and 80b and 81 b, respectively.Likewise, the hollow shaft or tube 64 at its end which projects withinthe housing 38 has an end face 83 which lies in a plane which is skewedwith respect to the axis of the hollow tube or shaft 52. The end face 83of a hollow shaft 64 defines a cam surface having a rise portion 83a anda fall portion 83b.

The collar 77 also has an annular peripheral groove 85 which slidablyreceives a pair of pins 86 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2) whichextends through arcuate slots 87 in the opposite sides of the housing38. The pins 86 are fixed to the levers 36.

As will be described in detail hereinafter, the output shaft 52 has aninterruptible driving connection with the worm gear 63. The output shaft52 and the worm gear 63 are coupled together during running operation ofthe wipers 30 and the relative positions of the collar 77 and tubularshaft 64 are as shown in FIGS. 11 and i2 and the levers 36 are in theposition shown in FIG. 3 in which they hold the cover open. When wiperoperation is being terminated and upon the wipers reaching their inboardor park position, the driving connection between the worm gear 63 andthe output shaft 52 is interrupted, but the worm gear 63 continues torotate a predetermined angular extent prior to the wiper motor 50 beingde-energized. This continued rotation of the worm gear 63 causes thehollow shaft 64 to be rotated. During this continued rotation of theworm gear 63, the shaft 52, annular member 72 and collar 77 are notrotating, since the driving connection between the output shaft 52 andthe worm gear 63 is interrupted. Rotation of the hollow shaft 64relative to the collar 77 causes the rise portion 83a of the cam surface83 to engage the rise portion 80a of the cam surface 80 on the collar 77and effect movement of the collar 77 linearly toward the right from theposition shown in FIG. 11 toward the position shown in FIG. 13 Thismovement of the collar 77 toward the right toward the position shown inFIG. 13 causes the pins 86 to move in a clockwise direction in thearcuate slot 87 which in turn causes the levers 36 to be moved in theclockwise direction to move the cover 25 toward its closed position.When the worm gear has substantially rotated 180 it will actuate aswitch 90 to effect deenergization of the wiper motor 50. When thewipers are in their parked or inboard position and the cover 25 is inits closed position the relative position of the parts are as shown inFIG. 13.

When wiper operation is initiated by energizing the wiper motor 50, theworm gear 63 is caused to be rotated which in turn rotates the metalshaft 64. Rotation of the worm gear 63 also rotates the sleeve 75.Rotation of the sleeve 75 causes a radial projection 92 thereon toengage the rise portion 81a of the cam surface 81 of the collar 77 p74be moved toward the left from its position shown in FIG. 13 towards itsposition shown in FIG. 11. This movement toward the left is permitted,since the hollow shaft 64 is being rotated so that its rise portion 83amoves out of the way and toward the fall portion 80b of the cam surface80 as the collar 77 is shifted toward the left. Movement of the collartoward the left towards its position shown in FIG. 31 causes the pins 86to be moved in the counter clockwise direction in the arcuate slot 87which in turn causes the levers 36 to be moved in the counterclockwisedirection and the cover 25 toward its open position. When the worm gear63 has been rotated substantially 180the collar 77 will be completelyshifted toward the left and its cam surface will be in abuttingengagement with the cam surface 83 of the hollow shaft 64. When thisoccurs a driving connection is again established between the worm gear63 and the output shaft 52, and in a manner to be hereinafter described.When the worm gear 63 and tubular shaft 64 are drivingly connected, theentire assembly including the collar 77 is rotated in unison and thewipers 30 are oscillated through their strokes.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the cover 25 is movedfrom its closed position towards its open position prior to operation ofthe windshield wipers 30 when wiper operation is initiated and that thecover 25 is moved from its open position towards its closed positionsubsequent to the windshield wipers 30 being positioned in their parkedor inboard position. This precludes any possible interference betweenthe windshield wipers 30 and the cover 25.

As best shown in FIGS. 4-6, the means for interrupting the drivingconnection between the output shaft 52 and the worm gear 63 comprises adrive plate rigidly secured to the end of the shaft 52 opposite thecrank arm 53. The drive plate 100 has a circular opening 101 surroundedby a shoulder 102. A drive pawl 104 has a circular aperture forreceiving the shoulder 102 such that the drive pawl 104 is rotatablyjournaled on the drive plate 100. In addition, the drive pawl 104 isformed with an integral upstanding apertured lug 106 having a reverselybent end 108 and an integral cam follower pin 110. A lock pawl 112 hasan upstanding pin 114 which extends through to the aperture in the drivepawl 104 and the aperture 101 in the drive plate 100 whereby the lockpawl 112 is pivotally supported relative to the drive plate 100. Inaddition the lock pawl 1 12 has an integral cam follower pin 1 l6 and anupstanding apertured lug 118. The lug 106 on the drive pawl 104 and thelug 118 on the lock pawl 1 12 in the angular relationship depicted inFIG. 4.

The worm gear 63 has an integral cam track 122 or slot with a raisedledge section 124. The cam track 122 defines a pair of angularly spacedshoulders, or abutments, 126 and 128. In assembling the parts to theworm gear 63, the drive pawl 104 is journaled on the shoulder 102surrounding the aperture 101 in the drive plate 100. Thereafter the lockpawl 112 is assembled with the drive plate 100 and the drive pawl 104 byinserting the pin 114 through the aligned apertures in the drive pawl104 and the drive plate 100. Thereafter, the lugs 106 and 118 areinterconnected by the tension spring 120. This subassembly is thenassembled with the worm gear by inserting the crank shaft 52 through theaperture 66( which was previously connected to the drive plate 100) inthe worm gear 63 and moving the entire assembly axially relative to thegear 63 until the cam follower pin 114 on the drive pawl 106 and the pin116 on the lock pawl 112 are seated within the cam track 122. When thepin is in engagement with the shoulder 126 of the cam track 122 and thepin 116 is in engagement with the shoulder 128, the shaft 52 isconnected for rotation with the worm gear 63.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the worm gear 63 is shown in drivingengagement with the worm 62 integral with the armature shaft not shown)of the motor 50. When the motor 50 is energized, the worm gear 63rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 130. Withthe cam follower pin of the drive pawl 104 in engagement with theshoulder 126 and the cam follower pin 116 of the lock pawl 112 inengagement with the shoulder 128, rotation will be imparted to the shaft52 about the axis of the worm gear 63.

In order to shift the collar 77 to move the cover between its positions,it is necessary to interrupt the driving connection between the shaft 52and the worm gear 63 during continuous rotation of the latter. In sodoing, the rotation of the shaft 62 is substantially arrested andcontinued rotation of the worm gear 63 throughout a distance ofsubstantially l80causes the collar 77 to be shifted from its positionshown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG. 13.

In order to interrupt the driving connection between the output shaft 52and the worm gear, the actuating mechanism 43 includes the universelymounted latch M0. As best shown in FIGS. -10, the latch 140 comprises asteel stamping, and is formed with a substantially elliptical opening142. It further includes a spring retaining lug 144, a hook 146 and acam lug 148. The cam lug 148 is curved outwardly of the plane of thehook 146 as clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the function thereofwill be pointed out more particularly hereinafter. As shown FIGS. 4 and8, the latch 140 is transversely bent along a line 150 through thecenter of the elliptical opening 142, and in addition the hook 146 isangularly offset as shown at 152.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the latch 140 constitutes a component of anelectromagnet 160 and switch assembly 90 for controlling theinterruptible driving connection between the output shaft 52 and theworm gear 63 and an energizing circuit for the motor 50. Theelectromagnet and switch assembly includes a plastic switch housing 156which, as seen in FIG, 4, has an integral offset leg portion 158 onwhich electric terminals are mounted. The plastic housing 156 issuitably attached to the housing 57. The electromagnet 154 includes asteel shell 161, a coil 162 and a magnetizable core 163 is suitablyattached to the switch assembly 90. The latch 140 is mounted for limiteduniversal movement on a hollow rivet 164, as seen in FIG. 9, a washer165 being interposed between a switch housing 156 and the latch 140. Byvirtue of the elliptical opening 142 in the latch 140 through which thecylindrical rivet 164 passes, it will be appreciated that the latch 140is supported for limited lateral and axial movement as well as pivotalmovement relative to the switch housing 156.

As best shown in FIGS. 4-6, the switch 90 for eenergizing the electricmotor 50 when the cover 25 reaches its closed position is containedwithin the switch blade 172 carrying a contact 172a at its free end anda stationary contact 1740 connected to a terminal lug 174. The leafspring switch blade 172, intermediate its ends, carries a plastic button175. The button 175 is engageable by the latch 140 and moved thereby toseparate the contacts 172a and 1740 so as to de-energize the motor 50when the worm gear 63 is rotated substantially l80subsequent to thedrive. connection being interrupted. The latch 140 is biased in aclockwise direction about its pivotal connection with the switch housing156 via a coil spring 180, one end of which engages the lug 144 of thelatch 140 and the other of which engages a lug 181 integral with theshell 161 of the electromagnet 160. In addition to biasing the latch 140in a clockwise direction, the spring 180 urges the latch 140 toward thewall 182 of the switch housing 156 due to the angular relationshipbetween the lugs 144 and 181. That is, the lug 144 is located above theplane of the lug 181 on the latch, as clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The electromagnet 160 is energized in FIGS. 8 and 10 and tie-energizedin FIGS. 7 and 9. The latch 140, the drive pawl 104 and the switch areshown in the rest position in FIG. 6. When in this position, the motor50 is de-energized, the wipers 30 are in their inboard or parkedposition and the cover 25 is in its closed position. In the restposition, it will be noted that the lug 106 of the drive pawl 104 isheld by the hook 146 of the latch and in addition has a portion thereofsituated in a guide slot 185 of the switch housing 156. The latch 140 isin engagement with the button 175 thereby deflecting the switch blade172 so as to separate the contacts 172:: and 174a. The electromagnet isdeenergized and accordingly the spring 180 maintains the hook end 146 ofthe latch 140 in engagement with the switch housing 156, as shown inFIG. 9.

Upon energization of the electromagnet the steel latch 140, whichconstitutes the armature of the electromagnet 160, is attracted to thecore 163 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. A cam lug 186 of the latch 140 isdisposed in a slot 187 in the electromagnet shell 161 and the latch 140is moved out of the plane of the switch actuator whereby the inherentresiliency in the leaf spring blade will cause the contact 1720 toengage stationary contact 174a. In addition, the offset hook 146 of thelatch 140 140 is disengaged from the lug 106 of the drive pawl 104, asis the lug 106 of the drive pawl 104, as is clearly shown in FIG. 8. Thelatch 140 remains in the position of FIGS. 8 and 10 as long as theelectromagnet 160 is energized. However, upon deenergization of theelectromagnet, the spring will pivot the latch 140 and extend itoutwardly into the path of movement of the latch 106 on the drive pawl104, as shown in FIG. 4. During movement of the latch 100 by the spring180 when the electromagnet 160 is deenergized, the cam lug 106 forcesthe latch 140 towards the side 182 of the switch housing 156 due toengagement of the cam lug 186 with the surface of the electromagnetshell 161 which defines the slot 187. The function of the cam lug 186 isto insure that the latch 140 will move into engagement with the switchhousing 156 not withstanding any residual magnetism in the core 163 orthe latch 140 when the electromagnet 160 is de-energized.

Referring to FIG. 15, a control circuitry for controlling energizationand de-energization of the electric motor 50 will be described. Themotor 50 includes a wound armature 200, one side of which is connectedto a ground G, and the other side of which is connected to a seriesfield winding 202 and a shunt field 204 winding. The junction betweenthe series and shut field windings 202 and 204 is connected by a wire206 to the stationary switch terminal 174 carrying the stationarycontact 1740. The other end of the shunt field winding 204 is connectedto a wire 208 having a connection with one end of a resistor 210 and astationary contact 212 of a manual control switch 214. The resistor 210at its other end is connected via wire 211 to ground G The movableswitch blade contact 172a and its leaf spring 172 are connected by wire216 through an automatic overload circuit breaker 218 and wire 220 toone terminal of a battery 222, the other terminal of which is connectedto a ground G The coil 162 of the electromagnet 160 is connected by wire224 to the wire 216 at one end and at the other end of the coil 163 isconnected by wire 226 to a stationary switch contact 223 of the manualcontrol switch 214.

The manual control switch 214 could be of any suitable or conventionalconstruction and includes, besides the stationary contacts 212 and 228,a movable bridging contact 230 having three positions, off, low andhigh. The bridging contact is connected to ground 6,. In the offposition, the electromagnet coil 163 is deenergized. The wiper motor 50is controlled by the switch 90 comprising contacts 172a and 174a. Whenthe movable switch contact 230 is moved to the low speed position, theelectromagnet coil 162 is energized thereby attracting the latch 140toward the core 163 and allow the switch blade to move the actuator 175and allow the contact 1720 to engage the stationary contact 1740, due tothe inherent resilient bias of the switch blade 172. Accordingly, themotor 50 will be energized for low speed operation from the battery 222,wire 220, the overload circuit breaker 218, the wire 216, leaf spring172, switch contacts 172a and 174a, terminal 174 and wire 206 to theseries field windings 202 and the armature 200 to ground G The shuntfield windings 204 energized from the wire 206, shunt field windings204, wire 208, stationary contact 212, bridging contact 230 to ground GWhen the switch contact 230 is moved to the high speed position theground path to ground G, for the circuit for energizing the shunt fieldwindings is broken, but the resistor 210 is connected in series with theshunt field windings 204 to reduce the energization thereof. Thisincreases the speed of the motor 50. When the movable contact 230 isreturned to the off position, the coil 162 is de-energized, but theswitch 90 remains closed until the worm gear 63 has rotated apredetermined angular extent subsequent to the driving connectionbetween the worm gear 63 and the output shaft 52 being interrupted.

With reference to FIGS. 4-15, a complete cycle of operation will bedescribed starting from when the cover 25 is in its closed position andthe wipers 30 are in their inboard or parked position and returning tothat position. The actuating mechanism 43 is in the position shown inFIGS. 6, 7 and 13 when the wipers 30 are in their parked position andthe cover is in its closed position. When the movable contact 230 of themanual switch 214 is moved to either the low or high speed positions theelectromagnet 160 will be energized. Energization of the electromagnet160 will attract the latch 140 and move it from the position shown inFIG. 7 to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. During this movement thelatch 140 will be disengaged from the switch button 175 to allow theleaf spring 172 to move the contact 1720 into engagement with thestationary contact 1740 to energize the motor 50. Concurrently, the hook146 of the latch 100 will be disengaged from the lug 106 of the drivepawl 104 as shown in FIG. 8. Energization of the motor 50 will result inrotation of the worm gear 63 from the position shown in FIGS.

10 and 6 in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 130. Thelug 106 of the drive pawl 104 will be withdrawn from the slot 185 in theswitch housing 156 due to co-action between the follower pin 110 of thedrive pawl 104 and with the cam track 122 in the worm gear 63. Thisoccurs because the cam track 122 is contoured so as to be eccentric withthe axis of the worm gear 63 and the drive and lock pawls 104 and 112can pivot about the pivot pin 114.

During the first 180 rotation of the worm gear 63, the shaft 52 will notrotate. After 180 of rotation the follower pin 110 will engage theshoulder 126 and the spring will pivot the lock pawl 112 so as to engageits follower pin 116 with the shoulder 128. When the follower pins 110and 116 engage the shoulders 128 and 126 of the cam track 122 the driveplate 100 and hence, the shaft 52 are drivingly connected to. the wormgear 63 for rotation therewith.

Also, during the relative rotation between the worm gear 63 and theshaft 52, the projection 92 on the sleeve 75 causes the annular collar77 to be shifted leftward from the position shown in FIG. 13 toward theposition shown in FIG. 11, and in a manner hereinbefore described. Thismovement of the collar 77 will cause the levers 36 to pivot in acounterclockwise direction to cause the cover to be moved from itsclosed position, as shown in FIG. 2, towards its open position, as shownin FIG. 3.

When the driving connection is established between the wonn gear 63 andthe output shaft 52, the output shaft 52 will be rotated. Rotation ofthe output shaft 52 will cause the wipers 30 to be oscillated in tandemacross the outer surface of the windshield 10 between their inboard andoutboard positions. If the manual switch contact 230 is in the low speedposition, the wiper motor 50 will operate at low speed with the resistor210 short circuited. On the other hand, if the movable switch contact230 is moved to the high speed position, the resistor 210 will beconnected in circuit with the shunt field windings 204 so as to causethe wiper motor to operate at high speed.

When wiper operation is no longer desired, the movable switch contact230 is moved to the off position thereby de-energizing the electromagnet160. When the electromagnet 160 is de-energized the spring 180 moves thelatch from its dotted line position of FIG. 4 to the full line positiondepicted therein and away from the shell 161 of the electromagnet fromthe position shown in FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 7. As alludedto hereinbefore, the cam lug 186 assists the spring in urging the latch140 towards the side 182 of the switch housing 156 as shown in FIGS. 7and 9. When the latch 140 is moved to this position the offset hook 146of the latch 140 will be in a position to intercept the end of the lug106 on the drive pawl 104 when it arrives at the angular position shownin FIG. 4. The motor 50 remains energized for either low or high speedoperation when the electromagnet 160 is de-energized since the switchcontacts 172a and 174remain in engagement.

When the hook 146 of the latch 140 engages the lug 106 of the drive pawl104 during continued rotation of the worm gear 63, the pin 110 of thedrive pawl 104 is cammed from engagement with the shoulder 126 and thenthe pin 116 of the lock pawl 112 is cammed from engagement with theshoulder 126. This interrupts the driving connection between the shaft52 and the worm gear 63. At this time rotation of the shaft 52 issubstantially arrested and the wipers 30 are in their inboard or parkedposition. During continued rotation of the worm gear throughoutsubstantially 180 from the position shown in FIG. 4- toward the positionshown in FIG. 5, the collar 77, whose rotation is also arrested sincerotation of the annular member 72 and crank arm 53 is arrested, iscaused to be shifted toward the right from its position shown in FIG. 11to its position shown in FIG. 13, and in a manner hereinbeforedescribed. This will cause the cover 25 to be moved from its openposition, as shown in FIG. 3, toward its closed position, as shown inFIG. 2. During the relative rotation of the worm gear 53 and the shaft52, it will be appreciated that the drive pawl 104 and its lug 106 willmove radially outwardly due to the eccentricity of the cam track 222thereby effecting a counterclockwise pivotal movement of the latch 140from the solid line position of FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 6.Since the latch Mil is biased away from the shell 161 of theelectromagnet 160 it is now aligned with the switch actuator 175. Thus,the latch 140 will engage the actuator 175 to separate the switchcontacts 172a and 1740 when the worm gear 63 has been rotated 180 to theposition shown in FIG. so as to de-energize the motor 50 and arrestrotation of the worm gear 63.

Although the illustrated embodiment hereof has been described in greatdetail, it should be apparent that certain modifications, changes, andadaptations may be made in the illustrated embodiment, and that it isintended to cover all such modifications, changes and adaptations whichcome within the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cover concealed windshield wiping apparatus for an automotivevehicle having a windshield, a support structure for supporting thewindshield and which defines a well adjacent the lower end of thewindshield and a cover supported for movement between closed and openpositions in which it covers and uncovers said well, respectively, saidapparatus comprising an oscillatable windshield wiper for wiping thewindshield and which is adapted to be parked within the well beneath thecover when not operating; an actuating mechanism for oscillating saidwindshield cleaner assembly, said actuating mechanism including arotatable member operatively connected with the windshield wiper foroscillating the same, a drive motor including a rotatable element havingan interruptible driving connection with said rotatable member and meansoperable to establish a driving connection between said rotatableelement and member during running operation of the windshield wiper andoperable to disestablish the driving connection therebetween whenrunning operation is being terminated and allow said rotative element tocontinue to rotate relative to said rotatable member through a givenangular extent prior to de-energizing said drive motor, and a coveroperating mechanism operatively connected with said cover for movingsaid cover from its open position towards its closed position inresponse to said continued rotation of said rotatable element when saiddriving connection is interrupted.

2. A combined windshield wiping and cover operating apparatus for usewith an automotive vehicle having body structure which defines a wellextending transver sely of the vehicle, a windshield supported by saidbody structure and having its lower portion extending within said well,and a cover supported by said vehicle body structure for movementbetween closed and open positions in which it covers and uncovers saidwell, respectively, said apparatus comprising: a windshield cleanerassembly which is adapted to be supported by the body structure foroscillatory movement between inboard and outboard positions and with theinboard position being located within said well, an actuating mechanismfor oscillating said windshield cleaner assembly and for parking thesame in its inboard position, said actuating mechanism including arotatable output member operatively connected with said wiper assemblyfor oscillating the same, a drive motor including a rotatable elementhaving an interruptible driving connection with said output member andmeans for establishing a driving connection between said rotatableelement and said output member during running operation and fordisestablishing the driving connection therebetween when said wiperassembly reaches its inboard position when running operation is beingterminated while allowing said rotatable element to continue to rotatethrough a given angular extent prior to de-energizing the drive motor,and a cover operating mechanism operatively connected with said coverand being operable in response to said rotatable element continuing itsrotation to move said cover from its open position toward its closedposition whereby said cover is not moved to its closed position untilsaid wiper assembly is in its inboard park position.

3. A combined windshield wiping and cover operating apparatus for usewith an automotive vehicle having a body structure, which defines a wellextending transversely of the vehicle, a windshield supported by saidbody structure and having its lower portion extending within said well,and a cover supported by the support structure for movement betweenclosed and open positions in which it covers and uncovers said well,said apparatus comprising: a windshield cleaner assembly which isadapted to be supported by the body structure for oscillatory movementbetween inboard and outboard positions and with the inboard positionbeing located within said will, an actuating mechanism for oscillatingsaid windshield cleaner assembly between its positions during runningoperation and for parking the same in its inboard position when runningoperation is being terminated, said actuating mechanism including arotatable crank arm operatively connected with said windshield wiperassembly, a drive motor, a rotatable output shaft having one end thereofsecured to said rotatable crank arm, a tubular shaft surrounding saidrotatable output shaft and which is drivingly connected with said motor,said tubular shaft having an end face lying in a plane which is skewedwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft, said endface defining a cam surface having a rise portion and a fall portion, acollar surrounding said output shaft and supported for linear movementlongitudinally thereof, aid collar having an end face adjacent saidtubular shaft which is skewed with respect to its longitudinal axis andwhich defines a cam surface having a rise and fall porrotate through agiven angular extent prior to de-energizing the drive motor, saidtubular shaft when rotated relative to said output shaft having the riseportion of its cam surface engaging in the rise portion of the camsurface of the collar to cause the collar to be linearly moved relativeto the output shaft whereby the cover is caused to be moved from itsopen position towards its closed position subsequent to the windshieldcleaner assembly being parked in its inboard position.

1. A cover concealed windshield wiping apparatus for an automotivevehicle having a windshield, a support structure for supporting thewindshield and which defines a well adjacent the lower end of thewindshield and a cover supported for movement between closed and openpositions in which it covers and uncovers said well, respectively, saidapparatus comprising an oscillatable windshield wiper for wiping thewindshield and which is adapted to be parked within the well beneath thecover when not operating; an actuating mechanism for oscillating saidwindshield cleaner assembly, said actuating mechanism including arotatable member operatively connected with the windshield wiper foroscillating the same, a drive motor including a rotatable element havingan interruptible driving connection with said rotatable member and meansoperable to establish a driving connection between said rotatableelement and member during running operation of the windshield wiper andoperable to disestablish the driving connection therebetween whenrunning operation is being terminated and allow said rotative element tocontinue to rotate relative to said rotatable member through a givenangular extent prior to de-energizing said drive motor, and a coveroperating mechanism operatively connected with said cover for movingsaid cover from its open position towards its closed position inresponse to said continued rotation of said rotatable element when saiddriving connection is interrupted.
 2. A combined windshield wiping andcover operating apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle having bodystructure which defines a well extending transversely of the vehicle, awindshield supported by said body structure and having its lower portiOnextending within said well, and a cover supported by said vehicle bodystructure for movement between closed and open positions in which itcovers and uncovers said well, respectively, said apparatus comprising:a windshield cleaner assembly which is adapted to be supported by thebody structure for oscillatory movement between inboard and outboardpositions and with the inboard position being located within said well,an actuating mechanism for oscillating said windshield cleaner assemblyand for parking the same in its inboard position, said actuatingmechanism including a rotatable output member operatively connected withsaid wiper assembly for oscillating the same, a drive motor including arotatable element having an interruptible driving connection with saidoutput member and means for establishing a driving connection betweensaid rotatable element and said output member during running operationand for disestablishing the driving connection therebetween when saidwiper assembly reaches its inboard position when running operation isbeing terminated while allowing said rotatable element to continue torotate through a given angular extent prior to de-energizing the drivemotor, and a cover operating mechanism operatively connected with saidcover and being operable in response to said rotatable elementcontinuing its rotation to move said cover from its open position towardits closed position whereby said cover is not moved to its closedposition until said wiper assembly is in its inboard park position.
 3. Acombined windshield wiping and cover operating apparatus for use with anautomotive vehicle having a body structure, which defines a wellextending transversely of the vehicle, a windshield supported by saidbody structure and having its lower portion extending within said well,and a cover supported by the support structure for movement betweenclosed and open positions in which it covers and uncovers said well,said apparatus comprising: a windshield cleaner assembly which isadapted to be supported by the body structure for oscillatory movementbetween inboard and outboard positions and with the inboard positionbeing located within said will, an actuating mechanism for oscillatingsaid windshield cleaner assembly between its positions during runningoperation and for parking the same in its inboard position when runningoperation is being terminated, said actuating mechanism including arotatable crank arm operatively connected with said windshield wiperassembly, a drive motor, a rotatable output shaft having one end thereofsecured to said rotatable crank arm, a tubular shaft surrounding saidrotatable output shaft and which is drivingly connected with said motor,said tubular shaft having an end face lying in a plane which is skewedwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft, said endface defining a cam surface having a rise portion and a fall portion, acollar surrounding said output shaft and supported for linear movementlongitudinally thereof, aid collar having an end face adjacent saidtubular shaft which is skewed with respect to its longitudinal axis andwhich defines a cam surface having a rise and fall portion, a linkagemeans operatively connected with said cover and said slidable collar formoving said cover between its positions in response to said collar beinglinearly moved relative to the output shaft, and means for establishinga driving connection between said tubular shaft and said output shaftduring running operation and for disestablishing the driving connectiontherebetween when said wiper assembly reaches its inboard position whenrunning operation is being terminated while allowing said tubular shaftto continue to rotate through a given angular extent prior tode-energizing the drive motor, said tubular shaft when rotated relativeto said output shaft having the rise portion of its cam surface engagingin the rise portion of the cam surface of the collar to cause the collarto be linearly moved relative to the outPut shaft whereby the cover iscaused to be moved from its open position towards its closed positionsubsequent to the windshield cleaner assembly being parked in itsinboard position.